Preface

National parks and protected areas are earth's most diversified ecosystems and form the basis of life on earth because all living organisms are supported by the interactions among them. This book explores the context and practice of national parks with countries' obligations to safeguard biodiversity through the protection and management of forest-protected areas. The book examines the wider impacts of national parks within the scope of an integrated environmental hub at the global and regional level and eventually delves into the country case.

The book covers three areas: theoretical underpinnings and concepts relating to national parks, exploring their various modalities and integrated concerns for the environment; an empirical review in lieu of effective management of protected areas as defined by the World Conservation Union IUCN, addressing the efficient use of human and material resources, including national/agency-protected area regulations and legislation, policies, international conventions and designations, management plans, and/or agreements associated with specific identified areas; and evaluation of challenges underlying each country's intention to gauge the potentials of a national park and pinpoint adequate attention on exploiting new strategies for national parks and protected area management.

This book is a compilation of research papers illustrating the immense diversity and value of national parks and protected areas through a case reference of selected countries in Asia, Africa, and North America.

It is hoped that this book will contribute to harnessing any synergies and complementarities by learning from the experience of both developed and developing countries. Evidence shows that through properly designed and implemented policies and instruments, it can significantly increase the impact on initiatives that conserve national parks and protected areas, thereby discouraging behaviors that are detrimental to species and ecosystems.

Writing a book is harder than we thought but more rewarding than we could have ever imagined. None of this would have been possible without the understanding and the true friendship that we both share. We stood aside during every struggle and faced the challenges together. We are eternally grateful to the great team at IntechOpen. Mr. Gordan Tot and the team have taught us discipline, empathy, manners, respect, and so much more, which has motivated us to complete the project successfully. We truly appreciate the fact that we would not have been able to complete the project if IntechOpen hadn't given us generous time, which we desperately needed. Although shouldering great responsibilities and commitments with our university's administrative duties, our time for research and writing was worth it. To everyone at the UiTM who enabled us to be the top executive management that we are honored to be a part of, thank you for letting us serve, for being a part of our amazing academia, and for the trust given to us to turn their continue our core duties as researchers.

Thanks go our families, particularly our wives Rafidah and Zara, for always being the persons we could turn to during tough times. They obediently sustained us

in ways that we never knew that we needed. Sincere appreciation also goes to our children. So thankful to have all of you back in our lives.

Finally, to all those colleagues who have been providing us with assistance directly and indirectly: UiTM's Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Faculty of Applied Science, Malaysia Institute of Transport, the Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, UiTM, the Chancellery, UiTM Johor Branch, and last but not least, the Research Management Institute, UiTM.
